(Boonville, NY – Jan. 2016) In 2010, a song-and-dance duo was looking for a venue in which to try out their new act before taking it on the road; they selected the stage at Boonville Elementary in Boonville. This duo called themselves Two on Tap.
Two on Tap will be back to perform in a show to benefit the Boonville Black River Canal Museum Building Fund on Saturday, Feb. 6 at 7 p.m. at Boonville Elementary. They will be joined by local performers Michael Scott Ferris and Claire Haile.
Two on Tap will bring the audience back in time to the era when couples like Fred and Ginger and Mickey and Judy filled the silver screen with tight vocal harmony and precision tap choreography. Based in New York City, Two on Tap is Melissa Giattino, a true triple-threat who made her Broadway debut in 42nd Street and was featured as a member of the Radio City Rockettes and Ron DeStefano, an award-winning tenor who showcased his skills at Lincoln Center and the Broadway National tour of Fiddler on the Roof. Together, they have an unmatched chemistry that crosses the footlights to create one unforgettable show of classic songs, fantastic vocals, gorgeous costumes and exciting tap dancing. Melissa and Ron pay tribute to the Great American songbook and classic Broadway song-and-dance in this fun, lively, and fast-paced show that gets crowds singing and dancing along from their seats. Featuring sensational new arrangements of standards like “I Got Rhythm” and “Yes sir, that’s My Baby” as well as rousing favorites like “Sing, Sing, Sing” and “L-O-V-E”, Two on Tap uses fresh, original choreography to show how classic song-and-dance still endures and entertains.
Michael Scott Ferris graduated with a BFA in Musical Theatre from the State University College at Fredonia, NY, where he was a member of a small touring choir and acquired the travel bug…upon graduation, he was cast in a variety of shows which landed him in a variety of venues (summer stock, dinner theatre, national and international bus and truck tours and cruise ships), all of which took him to new and interesting corners of the world. He had the good fortune of meeting his “little brother” Ron DeStefano on a European tour of Evita, and has enjoyed their friendship ever since, teaming up with him 6 years ago to present Two on Tap on this stage for the first time.
In recent years, Michael has done much local performing as a soloist as well as concertizing with the Adirondack Community Chorus, often for the benefit of a local organization or charity. Michael has also recorded a CD of standards entitled, Yesterdaydream.
Claire Haile, a Boonville native is a senior at The College of Saint Rose, working toward her Bachelor’s in Music Education and studying classical voice with Ms. Lucille Beer. A native of Central New York, Claire began singing at church as a toddler and hasn’t stopped singing since. In March of 2015 she won the Joel Dolven Vocal Award, a competitive honor, sponsored by the Mendelssohn Club of Albany. In the summer of 2015 Claire travelled to Greve in Chianti, Italy during July and August to participate in the Daniel Ferro Vocal Program, a prestigious audition-based program taught by a professor from The Juilliard School. During this time in Italy, she performed in several concerts and master classes and took private lessons with Maestro Ferro and Ms. Beer.
In November, Claire gave an hour-long recital at her college that consisted of works by Handel, Schubert, Fauré, Copland, and others. Most recently, Claire performed in a Saint Rose production of The Mikado, starring as Yum-Yum. She has worked for the last six summers alongside Michael, in the DPN Center’s Summer Youth Musical Theatre Program, both as performer and assistant to the director.
The Boonville Black River Canal Museum Board of Trustees is in the process of raising funds for a badly needed warehouse. The Museum Board has recently been given a full-sized Black Smith Shop complete with horses, tools, wheelwright and much more from the Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake. The warehouse will be used to house this display for visitors to enjoy.
The museum is asking for a $10 minimum donation to attend the show. Tax deductible tickets will be available at the DPN, Fynmore Studios or by calling 942-5444 or 392-4639. Tickets will also be available at the door the night of the show. CDs from the performers, as well as canal memorabilia will be available for sale after the show.